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RECOVERY OUTLINE Regent Parrot (Eastern)

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RECOVERY OUTLINE Regent Parrot (Eastern) RECOVERY OUTLINE Regent Parrot (eastern) 1 Family Psittacidae 2 Scientific name Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides (Schodde, 1993) 3 Common name Regent Parrot (eastern) 4 Conservation status Endangered: A1a, B1+2e 5 Reasons for listing Narandoc. There have been no recent surveys in There is evidence of rapid decline in two of the Victoria, but appear to have been marked declines in species’ three sub-populations (Endangered: A1a). The South Australia since 1987 (M. Harper). Sub- area of occupancy has decreased to the extent that the population in Mallee Cliffs State Forest and population is now fragmented (B1), and a continuing Kemendoc Nature Reserve, N. S. W., estimated at 400 decrease in population size is likely (2e). individuals in 1993, was down to 150 in 1997 (R. Webster and D. Leslie). At that time, numbers Estimate Reliability were estimated to be 200 individuals in South Extent of occurrence 140,000 km2 high Australia, 500 in New South Wales and 750 in Victoria trend stable high (R. Webster and D. Leslie). Area of occupancy 500 km2 low trend decreasing medium No. of breeding birds 1,500 low trend decreasing medium No. of sub-populations 3 medium Largest sub-population 750 low Generation time 5 years low 6 Infraspecific taxa P. a. anthopeplus (western mallee region) is Least Concern, as is the species. 7 Past range and abundance Breeding along Murray R., from Bordertown, S. A., to 9 Ecology Kerang, Vic., including the lower Avoca R., lower The eastern subspecies of Regent Parrot nests in Wakool R., Murrumbidgee R. downstream of Hay, riverine River Red Gums Eucalyptus camaldulensis and possibly Darling R. near Pooncarie, and along the Black Box E. largiflorens woodlands, using hollows in Wimmera R. from Dimboola to Wyperfeld National dead or living eucalypts that have a minimum girth of Park (Joseph, 1978, Burbidge, 1985, Harper, 1989, 25 cm (Burbidge, 1985, Harper, 1989, Oldroyd et al., Ayers et al., 1996, Higgins, 1999). Non-breeding birds 1994). It forages for seeds of grasses and herbaceous occurred throughout the eastern mallee region plants in mallee within 20 km of the nesting site, (Higgins, 1999). particularly where Christmas Mallee E. socialis or 8 Present range and abundance Yellow Mallee E. incrassata dominate (Burbidge, 1985, Breeding now confined to three widely separated Ayers et al., 1996, Higgins, 1999). It will also take areas: between lower Wakool River and Narandoc, east berries, blossom, other pant material and lerp, as well of Mildura; the lower reaches of the Wimmera R., as fallen grain and fruit in orchards and vineyards where breeding now infrequent around Lake (Beardsell, 1985). Albacutya; and from Renmark to Morgan. Although 10 Threats birds travel more widely during the non-breeding The apparent decline of the subspecies in New South season, there are few recent records between the three Wales may be an artefact of seasonal differences, but major sub-populations. From the mid-1980s to early could also be the result of clearance of mallee for 1990, there were estimated to be 250 to 350 breeding agriculture, which has destroyed much feeding habitat pairs in the lower Wimmera, and surveys over the within 20 km of nest sites. Clearance has also affected same period found at least 93 nests in South Australia the other sub-populations and there continues to be and 55 in New South Wales/Victoria (Beardsell, 1985, pressure to clear some remaining patches for Burbidge, 1985, Harper, 1989, F. Noelker). In 1997, 59 horticulture. Much remaining feeding habitat has also nests were recorded between lower Wakool R. and been separated from breeding habitat and continues to 314 be grazed, which may reduce its value to Regent 13.3 In N. S. W., clearing of the mallee is restricted Parrots, or has been harvested for charcoal (Burbidge, within 20 km of the Murray River. 1985). Nesting habitat has also been destroyed, and its 13.4 Some corridors connecting breeding and regeneration prevented through logging for timber, feeding areas have been identified. firewood collection, ringbarking on agricultural land, salinisation and waterlogging (Burbidge, 1985, Webster 14 Management actions required and Llewellyn, 1991, Higgins, 1999). Feral honey bees 14.1 Cease clearance of remaining Regent Parrot have excluded Regent Parrots from many hollows habitat, monitoring compliance biennially. around Lake Albacutya (F. Noelker), and occupy some hollows that are suitable for Regent Parrots in 14.2 Using appropriate incentives, undertake Wyperfeld National Park, although overall hollow extension with land-holders that have suitable availability there may not be limiting (Oldroyd et al., woodland habitat to promote sound 1994). Use of agricultural and horticultural crops by management of remnants and encourage the Regent Parrots has exposed a proportion of the greater connectivity between sub-populations. population to poison, shooting, and, when feeding on 14.3 Develop and implement appropriate spilt grain, traffic accidents (Burbidge, 1985). management guidelines for all woodland on 11 Information required public land, particularly timber reserves, transport corridors and local government land. 11.1 Determine effects of grazing and mallee harvesting for charcoal on suitability for 14.4 Monitor population size regularly, both along foraging by breeding Regent Parrots. Murray R. and in the Wimmera. 11.2 Develop an efficient means of feral beehive 15 Organisations responsible for removal. conservation 11.3 Develop appropriate non-lethal damage New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, mitigation techniques for fruit-growers. South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage, Victorian Department of Natural Resources 12 Recovery objectives and Environment. 12.1 Stabilise existing sub-populations. 16 Other organisations involved 13 Actions completed or under way Landcare groups, Greening Australia, local 13.1 Sub-populations have been surveyed at government, native title holders, State Forests of New irregular intervals. South Wales, New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation, Murray Darling Basin 13.2 Guidelines have been developed for forestry in Commission, bird-watching societies, fruit-growers. riparian breeding habitat. 17 Staff and financial resources required for recovery to be carried out Staff resources required 2001-2005 0.2 Extension Officer Financial resources required 2001-2005 Action Conservation Other funding Total agencies sources Determine effects of grazing and charcoal harvesting on habitat $15,000 $30,000 $45,000 quality Develop and apply an effective means of removing feral beehives $20,000 $15,000 $35,000 Develop and apply non-lethal damage mitigation techniques $15,000 $30,000 $45,000 Monitor numbers biennially $10,000 $30,000 $40,000 Extension and landscape management 1 $60,000 $100,000 $160,000 Appropriate management of public lands 1 $125,000 $250,000 $375,000 Total $245,000 $455,000 $700,000 1 Costs divided among all threatened bird taxa from mallee lands; in addition to those being expended as a part of other programs. 18 Bibliography Ayers, D., Nash, S. and Baggett, K. 1996. Threatened 1983 to January 1984. Australian National Parks and Species of Western New South Wales. N. S. W. National Wildlife Service Report Ser. 1. Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney. Burbidge, A. H. 1985. The Regent Parrot. Australian Beardsell, C. 1985. The Regent Parrot. A report on the National Parks and Wildlife Service Report Ser. 4. nest site survey in south-eastern Australia, September 315 Harper, M. J. 1989. Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus Oldroyd, B. P., Lawler, S. H. and Crozier, R. H. 1994. breeding sites in the Riverland, South Australia, 1989. Do feral honey bees (Apis mellifera) and regent parrots Unpublished Report to the National Parks and (Polytelis anthopeplus) compete for nest sites? Wildlife Service, Adelaide. Aust. J. Ecol. 19:444-450. Higgins, P. J. (ed.) 1999. Handbook of Australian, New Webster, R. and Llewellyn, L. C. 1991. The Biology Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 4. Parrots to Dollarbird. and Management of the Regent Parrot (Polytelis Oxford University Press, Melbourne. anthopeplus anthopeplus) in N. S. W. Species Management Report No. 4. New South Wales National Parks and Joseph, L. 1978. Range and movements of the Regent Wildlife Service, Sydney. Parrot in South Australia. S. Aust. Ornithol. 28:26-27. Comments received from Gary Backhouse, Allan Burbidge, Matt Cameron, Mike Harper, Adrian Stokes, Rick Webster. 316 .
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